If you were scrolling through YouTube back in 2016, you probably remember that specific red-band Edge of Seventeen preview that felt like a punch to the gut. It wasn't just another teen movie trailer. It started with Hailee Steinfeld’s character, Nadine, storming into a classroom to tell her teacher she was going to kill herself.
The teacher? Woody Harrelson. His response? He was busy writing his own suicide note because her drama was so exhausting.
It was bold. It was dark. Honestly, it was the first time in a long time a "coming of age" movie didn't feel like it was written by a 50-year-old trying to guess what "the kids" talk like. That original Edge of Seventeen preview set a high bar for what turned out to be one of the most honest portrayals of adolescent localized-apocalypse ever put to film.
The Viral Hook That Defined Nadine
Marketing a teen dramedy is risky business. You either go full "Mean Girls" or you go full "Fault in Our Stars" tear-jerker. But STX Entertainment took a weird middle ground. They leaned into the cringe.
When that first Edge of Seventeen preview dropped, people weren't talking about the romance or the high school parties. They were talking about the awkwardness. Specifically, that scene where Nadine accidentally sends a graphic, hyper-detailed sexual text to her crush, Nick Mossman. We’ve all been there. Maybe not that specific brand of disaster, but that feeling of wanting to dissolve into the floorboards is universal.
The trailer worked because it didn't hide Nadine’s flaws. She’s messy. She’s mean to her mother (Kyra Sedgwick). She’s incredibly jealous of her "perfect" brother, Darian. Most teen movie trailers try to make the protagonist likable. This one just made her real.
Why the Red-Band Version Mattered
There were two versions of the preview floating around. The "Green Band" was fine, but the "Red Band" (restricted) version is what actually sold the movie.
Why? Because teenagers swear.
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By showing the raw, unfiltered dialogue written by director Kelly Fremon Craig, the Edge of Seventeen preview signaled to the audience that this wasn't a Disney Channel original. It was produced by James L. Brooks—the guy behind The Simpsons and Terms of Endearment. That pedigree meant the humor had teeth.
Breaking Down the Chemistry
You can’t talk about the movie’s teaser without mentioning the dynamic between Steinfeld and Harrelson. It’s the spine of the entire film. In the Edge of Seventeen preview, their banter serves as a palate cleanser for the heavy emotional beats.
Nadine: "I'm an old soul."
Mr. Bruner: "You're just unpleasant."
It's a perfect exchange.
Woody Harrelson plays Mr. Bruner with this dry, detached irony that somehow feels more supportive than a "traditional" mentor would. He doesn't coddle her. He treats her like an adult, which is exactly what a teenager who feels misunderstood actually wants. This specific relationship was the "sticky" part of the marketing that stayed in people's heads long after the 2-minute clip ended.
The Soundtrack Factor
Music choices in trailers are usually pretty generic. You’ve got your upbeat indie-pop or your somber piano cover. But the music in the Edge of Seventeen preview—specifically tracks like "The Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks (obviously) and more contemporary beats—anchored the film in a specific vibe. It felt timeless yet current.
It captured that "suburban purgatory" feeling. You know the one. Where every strip mall looks the same and your bedroom feels like a prison cell.
Addressing the "Cringe" Culture
There’s a reason this movie, and its subsequent previews, still get shared on TikTok and Twitter today. We are currently living in the era of "cringe."
Nadine Franklin is the patron saint of cringe.
The Edge of Seventeen preview showed her hiding in a bathroom, failing to talk to a guy at a pet store, and falling off a car. It didn't try to make her a "cool" loser. She was just a loser. And in a world of filtered Instagram lives, seeing that represented in a high-budget film was refreshing.
Critics like Richard Roeper and Peter Travers pointed out at the time that the film succeeded where others failed because it respected the stakes of being seventeen. When you're that age, a fight with your best friend isn't just a fight; it’s the end of the world. The preview captured that intensity without mocking it.
What the Preview Got Right (And What It Hid)
Most trailers give away the whole plot. You see the setup, the conflict, and the resolution.
The Edge of Seventeen preview was smarter. It focused on the character. It told us who Nadine was, but it didn't necessarily tell us how she was going to fix her life. It left out the deeper backstory regarding her father’s death—a pivotal plot point—which allowed the theater experience to be more emotional than expected.
It also highlighted the breakout performance of Hayden Szeto as Erwin Kim. His awkwardness countered Nadine’s cynicism perfectly. The preview gave just enough of their "silent film" date to make you want to see if he actually wins her over.
The Legacy of the Marketing Campaign
Since the film’s release, Kelly Fremon Craig went on to direct the adaptation of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. You can see the DNA of the Edge of Seventeen preview in how she handles adolescent girlhood. It’s never glossy. It’s always a bit sweaty, a bit loud, and very embarrassing.
The film currently sits at a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the movie lived up to the promise of its marketing.
People often complain that "they don't make movies like this anymore." They do, but they’re often buried on streaming services without the proper push. The Edge of Seventeen felt like one of the last great "theatrical" teen movies before everything shifted to Netflix.
How to Revisit the Story
If watching the Edge of Seventeen preview makes you nostalgic for that specific brand of 2010s angst, there are a few ways to dive back in.
- Watch the Deleted Scenes: There’s a wealth of material that didn’t make the cut, including more of Nadine’s internal monologues that are even darker than what made the final edit.
- Follow the Director's Work: Kelly Fremon Craig is the modern master of this genre. Following her projects gives you a direct line to this style of storytelling.
- Analyze the Screenplay: For writers, the script is a masterclass in voice. Nadine's dialogue is incredibly distinct—fast-paced, self-deprecating, and intelligent.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch the film or even just the Edge of Seventeen preview, look for these specific nuances that make the storytelling work:
- Spatial Acting: Notice how Hailee Steinfeld uses her body. She’s often hunched, trying to take up as little space as possible, or flailing wildly. It’s a physical manifestation of her internal chaos.
- Color Palette: The film uses a lot of blues and muted tones when Nadine is alone, contrasting with the warmer, brighter colors of her brother's "perfect" life.
- The Silence: Pay attention to the moments where Harrelson doesn't speak. His silence is often more effective than his jokes.
Rewatching the Edge of Seventeen preview serves as a reminder that being a teenager is a universal struggle of trying to find where you fit when you feel like a jagged piece in a round-hole world. It’s not just a "girl movie." It’s a "human movie."
To get the most out of the experience, try comparing the theatrical trailer to the actual opening scene of the film. You’ll see how the marketing team rearranged the dialogue to create a punchier "hook" for the audience, which is a fascinating look into how film editing can change the tone of a scene entirely.
Check out the original red-band clips on official studio channels to see the uncensored version that originally broke the internet back in 2016. It holds up surprisingly well, even in the landscape of today's hyper-fast social media content.